Lisa Raitt announces Tory leadership bid

Another high-profile contender has entered the federal Conservative leadership race.

Milton MP Lisa Raitt made the announcement in a minute-long video posted on YouTube at 4 p.m. A “full” announcement is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday.

“They tell us it’s the era of sunny ways, yet so many can’t see the sun,” she said. “Canada needs a leader who is going to fight for the striving many, not just the privileged few.”

Raitt joins fellow Ontario MPs Kellie Leitch, Erin O’Toole and Michael Chong, who are up against Quebec MP Maxime Bernier and former immigration minister Chris Alexander, who was defeated in the 2015 general election. The hopefuls will face off for the first time on Nov. 9 at a leadership debate in Saskatoon, Sask.

Raitt has represented the Halton area since 2008, and held several key portfolios in Stephen Harper’s cabinet including transport, natural resources and labour.

She resigned from her shadow-cabinet post as finance critic in October, a move widely seen as a suggestion she had decided to pursue the Tory leadership.